Kimberley Honeyeater

Meliphaga fordiana

Medium-sized honeyeater found in sandstone escarpment and gorge country of the western Kimberley region. Upperparts uniformly gray-green, underparts pale with diffuse gray streaks on chest. Dark cheeks split by thin pale gape mark that extends upward under the blue eye. Calls include loud short whistled phrases.

Identification

The Kimberley honeyeater is similar in appearance to the white-lined honeyeater, having dark grey upperparts, light grey underparts, grey eyes, with dark grey below the eyes and a black beak. It is distinguished from the white-lined honeyeater by the lack of citrine edging on the upper surface of the remiges and rectrices, pale creamy-buff under-wing coverts, and a milky-white belly.

Taxonomy

Scientific name
Meliphaga fordiana
Authority
(Schodde, 1989)
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Meliphagidae
Genus
Meliphaga

Range and habitat

The Kimberley honeyeater is endemic to the Kimberley region of Western Australia, living in rainforests, eucalypt woodlands and paperbark forests.<p>It is present in the Charnley River–Artesian Range Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Kimberley region.

Migration
Resident species

Conservation

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

Bird Calls

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